Fox renews 'Fringe' for 4th season

Curt WagnerRedEye

Despite low ratings, “Fringe” will return for a 22-episode fourth season this fall, a Fox spokesman confirmed Thursday night.

Fox renewed the sci-fi thriller about a group of government agents investigating scientific oddities even after its March 18 episode, “Stowaway,” garnered just 3.6 million viewers, a series low rating.

But that’s 3.6 million intelligent, dedicated fans who have been treated to an amazing Season 3 in which the Fringe team has traveled to an alternate universe where “alt” versions of themselves exist. Watching this season has been like watching two shows, with cast members portraying different versions of their usual characters. Anna Torv has been especially outstanding this season, playing FBI agent Olivia Dunham, her alt doppelganger and, last week, William Bell, who was played in Season 2 by Leonard Nimoy. (Bell’s soul inhabited Olivia’s body.)

Friday's episode, called "Bloodline," returns us to the alt universe with a shocking story involving "Fauxlivia," her unborn child and "Walternate" (John Noble). No spoilers here; just watch it at 8 p.m.

Fox should pair “Fringe” with another sci-fi drama--possibly its much-touted "Terra Nova"--and make Fridays a destination night for sci-fi fans, much like Syfy used to have with such series as "Battlestar Galactica," "Sanctuary" and "Stargate Universe." Syfy now airs wrestling early in the night.

FOX has renewed critically acclaimed thrilling drama FRINGE for a fourth season, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Company.

"FRINGE has truly hit a creative stride and has distinguished itself as one of television's most original programs. The series' ingenious producers, amazingly talented cast and crew, as well as some of the most passionate and loyal fans on the planet, made this fourth-season pickup possible," said Reilly. "When we moved the show to Fridays, we asked the fans to follow and they did. We're thrilled to bring it back for another full season and keep it part of the FOX family."

FRINGE co-creator and executive producer J.J. Abrams said, "We could not be happier that the fans of FRINGE (and our most excellent partners at FOX) have allowed us to continue telling stories from the fringe for another season!"

"This early pickup comes at a perfect time as we start production on the Season Three finale," added FRINGE showrunners and executive producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman. "We join the cast and crew in thanking our loyal fans and FOX for allowing us to have this much fun telling stories we love."

Since moving to Fridays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) in January, FRINGE is averaging a 2.2/7 among Adults 18-49 and has established itself as Friday's No. 1 series in the core adult demographic.

The compelling third season continues tonight, Friday, March 25 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), on FOX. In the "Bloodline" episode, the intensity of life "over there" accelerates as a pregnant OLIVIA (Anna Torv) is kidnapped and finds herself in mortal danger. As the Fringe Division races against time to find her, agent LINCOLN LEE (guest star Seth Gabel) receives some heartbreaking news as WALTER (John Noble) stops at nothing to preserve the new branch of the Bishop family tree.